Overkill Software's Payday 2 is among the most fun cooperative FPS games out there. Payday 2 sets itself apart thanks to its focus on strategy, teamwork, and stealth. The shooter revolves around heists players that undertake as a group of criminals. Survival is of the essence here, and players are given an array of weapons, items, and perks to choose from to ensure heists are executed as efficiently as possible.
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Builds are of the essence in Payday 2. Perk Decks are passive bonuses that can make or break builds in the game. Players have to be careful with their selection of Perk Decks in the game. While the game offers 22 Perk Decks in total, only one can be kept active at a time, so it is up to players to make sure they pick a Perk Deck that complements their playing style and build.
8 Yakuza
Kicking things off is the Yakuza Perk Deck in Payday 2. While not optimal for beginners and team players, the Yakuza Perk Deck is arguably the greatest Perk Deck for lone wolf players. This Perk Deck emphasizes movement speed and armor recovery, promoting a run-and-gun style of gameplay.
The lower a player's health, the faster their movement speed and armor recovery get when the Yakuza Perk Deck is active. What this means is that, coupled with a strong armor set, this perk will give players a devastating run and gun build.
7 Burglar
Burglar is one of the best stealth-focused Perk Decks in Payday 2. Its strengths are that chances of dodge are significantly increased, players can almost become invisible when standing still or crouching, bag times are reduced, and players gain increased armor recovery when standing still or crouching.
While the gameplay has taken a turn in terms of pace, stealth builds can still be highly effective. Besides stealth, the bonuses of this Perk Deck also allow for a very powerful supportive build that can move silently and aid teammates.
6 Crew Chief
Crew Chief is the ultimate team player's deck and is another one that most teams should look to have, as its bonuses help out every member of a crew. The gist of this Perk Deck is that it increases the stamina, shout range, armor, and health of players and everyone on their team.
Beyond this, this Deck reduces damage taken when in proximity to enemies and during hostage scenarios. Crew Chief is the perfect all-around Perk Deck in Payday 2 and every team will benefit greatly from having a player with this active.
5 Kingpin
The Kingpin Perk Deck is the best Deck for offensive tank builds in Payday 2. With this Perk Deck, players basically become invincible for a short period of time. The main focus of the Kingpin Perk Deck is the Kingpin injector. This consumable allows players to regenerate health upon getting hit for a short period of time. While it is active, enemies actively target the player too.
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This can make players sponges that can sustain massive amounts of damage all while their teammates clear up enemies. While the injector can be used an unlimited amount of times, it does have a short cooldown, making timing essential.
4 Sociopath
The Sociopath is another powerful Perk Deck in Payday 2 that is more suited towards aggressive players. What this Perk Deck does is it significantly reduces damage when surrounded by enemies, recovers armor upon kills, and recovers health upon melee kills.
As if that was not powerful enough already, close to medium-range kills can also send enemies into a state of fear which incapacitates them for a while, allowing teams to get in a good amount of kills and work on recovery. Overall, the Sociopath Perk Deck is suited for players that like staying in close and dishing out as much damage as they can in a short amount of time.
3 Ex-President
Ex-President is among the most underrated Perk Decks in Payday 2. It is a very versatile Perk Deck that restores health in a unique way. Upon getting kills, players build up a storage of health that is applied the moment their shields die away. The Deck also increases overall health, and armor recovery upon kills.
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What this means is that a vast array of builds can utilize this Perk Deck properly — from close-quarters builds that need the health and armor recovery to medic and support builds that can use the extra health as cushioning while they scramble around to revive and help teammates.
2 Leech
The Leech Deck revolves around restoring health for players and their teammates. Due to its nature, this is the ideal Perk Deck for tank builds in the game. The main focus of the Leech Deck is its Leech Ampule, a throwable that restores 40% health and divides it into two segments. Two kills will restore a health segment. Beyond this, the Leech Perk Deck also increases max health, and taking damage increases the health of teammates.
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Due to its nature, players are encouraged to have a close-quarters weapon such as a shotgun or an SMG. Not only does staying close as a tank build help with eliminating enemies but also serves as a great aid to teammates by increasing their health. This is a very reliable Perk Deck that at least one player should have active at all times.
1 Stoic
The Stoic Perk Deck is one of the most popular Perk Decks in Payday 2. The main focus of this Perk Deck is survival and damage absorption. Players get the Stoic's hip flash which, once active, reduces damage taken during impact significantly. All the damage players do get is applied over time and if players go a few seconds without being hit, the damage being applied wears off, and half of the remaining damage-to-be-applied is given as health.
While multiple builds can utilize this Perk Deck, it is best used as a Tank build due to its focus on damage absorption and health. Players can also utilize this Deck as a hybrid between a Tank and a Support build, since its benefits mean they can run off to teammates in need of help and provide ample aid. Overall, Stoic is a very powerful, well-rounded Perk Deck in Payday 2.
Payday 2 is available for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
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As a seasoned enthusiast with a deep understanding of Payday 2, I can attest to the intricate dynamics of the game that make it a standout cooperative FPS experience. My extensive hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of the game's mechanics position me to provide valuable insights into the various concepts mentioned in the article.
Perk Decks in Payday 2:
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Yakuza:
- Specialty: Lone wolf players.
- Emphasis: Movement speed and armor recovery.
- Effect: Faster movement speed and armor recovery as player health decreases, promoting a run-and-gun playstyle.
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Burglar:
- Specialty: Stealth-focused players.
- Advantages: Increased dodge chances, near invisibility when still or crouching, reduced bag times, and enhanced armor recovery during stillness or crouching.
- Versatility: Suitable for both stealth and supportive builds.
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Crew Chief:
- Specialty: Team players.
- Benefits: Increases stamina, shout range, armor, and health for players and their team. Reduces damage when near enemies and during hostage scenarios.
- Role: An all-around Perk Deck that greatly benefits the entire team.
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Kingpin:
- Specialty: Offensive tank builds.
- Key Feature: Kingpin injector allows short-term invincibility and health regeneration upon getting hit. Enemies actively target the player during activation.
- Strategy: Creates a tank build capable of absorbing massive damage while teammates clear enemies.
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Sociopath:
- Specialty: Aggressive players.
- Abilities: Significant damage reduction when surrounded, armor recovery on kills, health recovery on melee kills.
- Crowd Control: Close to medium-range kills induce fear, incapacitating enemies for a while.
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Ex-President:
- Underestimated: Versatile Perk Deck.
- Unique Healing: Builds up health storage on kills, applied when shields deplete. Increases overall health and armor recovery upon kills.
- Applications: Suitable for various builds, from close-quarters to medic and support roles.
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Leech:
- Nature: Ideal for tank builds.
- Main Focus: Leech Ampule restores 40% health, divided into two segments. Two kills restore one health segment.
- Team Support: Increases max health and taking damage boosts teammates' health.
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Stoic:
- Popular: Widely used Perk Deck.
- Focus: Survival and damage absorption.
- Mechanism: Stoic's hip flask reduces damage taken during impact, with damage applied over time. Remaining damage transforms into health during periods of no hits.
- Versatility: Suited for Tank builds or a hybrid Tank-Support role.
Understanding these Perk Decks and their nuances is crucial for players aiming to optimize their gameplay and contribute effectively to their teams in Payday 2. The game's availability on various platforms ensures a diverse player base can enjoy the strategic thrill of cooperative heists.
